Battered and broken by the great winter storm of 1978, Motif No.1 collapsed, and in an eye blink, was swept out of Rockport harbor. Within the year, a duplicate had been built and repainted to look as good as new. The merited debate over rebuilding the motif has subsided through the 20some years, those who might have wished the Motif to never resurface, would have welcomed a bumper sticker reading, "Stamp Out Motif No.1!" Yet today we celebrate "Stamp Out!" Motif No.1 - the featuring of the Motif Scene on the Massachusetts stamp as part of the "Greetings from America" postage stamp set. The stamp set harkens back to the 1930s -1940s era of 'large letter' postcards. And it is within that time span that the allure of Motif No.1 was created, refined and marketed.

But the Motif was there before it was there...

Bradley Wharf had been an active fish landing and storage area since the American Civil War. As the fishing industry increased and as the immediate offshore areas around Straitsmouth and Thachers became desired fishing grounds, the original Motif building set affirm on granite foundation, offered convenient and immediate storage for gear and fish. A succession of individual owners including Howard Hodgkins, George and John Tarr, gave way to the Rockport Pier Company.

The first amalgam of the Motif with tourism occurred with the visits by the US Naval Fleet each summer to Sandy Bay. Fleet visits commenced in the late 1890s and continued up through the 1930s. The great battleships, anchored off Granite Pier and the Headlands, issued launches to bring tourists out to the ships for daily inspections. Visits by the "Great Fleets" grew to be one of the North Shore's premier summer events, advertising in Boston papers suggested that people rendezvous next to the "fish shack on the rocks;" upwards of 8 launches at a time embarked from both sides of Motif No.1.

 
It was in the late 1600s that fishermen from Ipswich (a small town located just north of Cape Ann) came to Rockport. During the 1700s Rockport was a small fishing village, but Rockport's history took an unusual turn after the turn of the next century. In the 1820s, the need for granite around the country and the world was high, and Rockport had high quality granite. Rockport is also located directly on the ocean, which made the transportation of the granite easier than an inland location. During this time, granite was in high demand and Rockport was furnishing most of the country's granite. As the town's industry boomed, its inhabitant's became known as the "quarry people."

The Custom House Tower in Boston, said to be the tallest building in the country without a steel frame, was built with Rockport granite. And granite from Rockport was also used in the locks of the Panama Canal. Rockport was known then (and almost named) Granitetown, but was incorporated as the town of Rockport in 1840. Eventually the increase in use of cement and other building materials spelled the death knell for Rockport's granite industry, but the remnants can be seen at a few locations around Rockport, which are mentioned in the "Things To Do" section.

During the mid- 1800s, artists and writers came to the area, inspired by the area's rugged scenic beauty. The first art studio was established in 1873, and traveling artists roamed the streets at this time looking for portraits and scenes to paint. For years since, Rockport has been an important contributor to American painting, sculpture and other art forms, and one of the attractions to Rockport are the number of galleries here, some with international reputations.

This quiet lobstering community is a "dry" one as well, due to an unusual event in 1856. Tired of the affect alcohol was having on the local men, Hannah Jumper and a group of supporters went on the Women's Raid of 1856, destroying every bottle of liquor in the town's drinking establishments. To this day, Rockport sells no alcohol, and in a town meeting vote on the issue taken within the last few years, residents continued to uphold the "dry town" designation. This is not a problem for visitors, just something to be aware of for your convenience. Restaurants invite you to bring your own wine or spirits and will provide setups for a small charge, and of course you can bring wine and liquor to your inn for your own use, but you'll have to buy it in neighboring Gloucester.

The town of Rockport consists of three primary areas: The South End, Downtown and Pigeon Cove.

The South End is mainly made up of residential areas along the rocky coastline, a beautiful area for a drive, walk or bike ride. There are several inns in this area, and this is a nice area to stay if you prefer quiet, out of the way spot.

The Downtown is the center of activity, most located along Dock Square, Bearskin Neck and Main Street. Bearskin Neck, named by fishermen who saw the bearskin John Babson had left to dry on the rocks, is known for its artists who have set up their shops in the fishermen's shacks of the past. These art studios are now mixed in with a number of other specialty shops and restaurants, and "walking the neck" can interest you for a few hours or a few days, when combined with the adjacent shops and restaurants on Main Street and throughout Dock Square.

It is on Bearskin Neck that the famous "Motif #1", one of the most painted and photographed scenes in America, which has been featured in the "America The Beautiful" exhibit at the Magic Kingdom in Orlando. This lobster shack is no longer in use, but is kept up as a town symbol.

It's cute even when it's closed!

A Rockport, Mass Porch